Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A Div. 3D.5 Story

SEC. 3D.5.1. GROUND STORY HEIGHT¶

For the intent, applicability, standards, measurement, and relief of ground story height see Sec. 3C.6.1. (Ground Story Height) .

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Sec. 3D.5.1. (Ground Story Height) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.5. (Story Height)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 3D.5.2. UPPER STORY HEIGHT¶

Upper story height is defined as the floor-to-floor height of any story of a building located above the ground story.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Upper Story Height) is to ensure upper story spaces and their facades are scaled and proportioned to contribute to the established architectural character of surrounding neighborhoods or districts.

B. Applicability

Upper story height standards apply to new construction of multi-story buildings or structures. When upper story height standards apply, the standards apply to each story located above the ground story and all build-to applicable stories specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

C. Standards

All occupiable space located in applicable portions of upper stories shall have a floor-to-floor height of no less than the upper story height minimum.

D. Measurement

Upper story height is measured vertically from the top of the finished floor to the top of the finished floor above.
Where no story exists above an upper story, upper story height is the shortest vertical distance from the top of the finished floor to the top of the ceiling or roof structure above.

E. Exceptions

Portions of upper stories located beyond the first 15 feet of a frontage applicable facade, measured inward and perpendicular to the facade are not required to meet upper story height standards.

F. Relief

A reduction in required upper story height of up to one foot may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .
Deviations from upper story height standards may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 3D.5.2. (Upper Story Height) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[Figure]

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the base layer, creating a transition between the base and middle layers:
- a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;
- b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) ; or
- c) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.3. (Shopfront Cornice) .
iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located no higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

b. Middle

i. The middle building layer shall include at least twice as many contiguous stories than the base building layer, starting at the top of the base layer and continuing upward.
ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the middle layer, creating a transition between the middle and top layers:
- a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;or
- b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .
iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located no higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

c. Top

i. The top building layer shall include at least one story and shall not include more stories than the base building layer.
ii. All stories located in the top building layer shall be contiguous and include, at minimum, all stories between the top of the middle layer and the top of the highest of the build-to applicable stories specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .
iii. A roofline cornice articulating element shall be applied to the top building layer when the top building layer is the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back. See Sec. 3D.6.5.C.4. (Roofline Cornice) .
iv. The roofline cornice shall extend for the full width of the building and be located along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.
v. When the top building layer does not include the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back, at least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the top layer, creating a transition between the top building layer and any story above:

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Sec. 3D.6.1. (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ; or
b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .
vi. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

D. Measurement

For measurement of stories see Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

E. Exceptions

Where the applied Form District (Part 2B.) requires a street step-back depth of 10 feet or greater, the top building layer may terminate at the topmost story below the street step-back. No articulating element is required above the top building layer.
When a building is less than five stories, the standards of this Section (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) do not apply, and the standards of Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) apply.

F. Relief

Base, middle & top articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .
A deviation from number of stories in building layers of one story may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .
Deviation from any base, middle & top articulation standard may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 3D.6.1. (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[Figure]

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

a. Base

i. The base building layer shall include between one and three contiguous stories starting with the ground story and continuing upward.
ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the base layer, creating a transition between the base and top layers:
- a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;
- b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) ; or
- c) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.3. (Shopfront Cornice) .
iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the facade and be located no higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

b. Top

i. The top building layer shall include at least twice as many stories as the base building layer, and include all remaining above-grade stories not included in the base building layer or include all remaining above-grade stories up to a street step-back of no less than 15 feet in depth. If the building is less than three stories, or less than three stories without a street step-back of at least 15 feet in depth, the top layer may be composed of one story regardless of the height of the base building layer.
ii. A roofline cornice articulating element shall be applied to the top building layer that is the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back. See Sec. 3D.6.5.C.4. (Roofline Cornice) .
iii. The roofline cornice shall extend for the full width of the facade and be located along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.
iv. When the top building layer does not include the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back, at least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the top layer, creating a transition between the top building layer and any story above:
- a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ; or
- b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .
v. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

D. Measurement

For measurement of stories see Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

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Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

E. Exceptions

Where the applied Form District (Part 2B.) requires a street step-back depth of 10 feet or greater, the top building layer may terminate at the topmost story below the street step-back. No articulating element is required above the top building layer.

F. Relief

Base-top articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .
A deviation from number of stories in building layers of one story may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .
Deviation from any base-top articulation standard may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Exceptions & meaning →